A LITTLE ABOUT THE AUSTRALIAN “NATIONAL DRYCLEANER AND LAUNDERER” MAGAZINE

The NATIONAL was born in 1950, and as Editor and Publisher, I am very excited that in 2015, the NATIONAL is celebrating 65 years in business. But it is anything but business as usual. After 64 years as a printed magazine, we are now exclusively available online. This has untold benefits for our readers including access to the magazine anywhere you have access to the internet, access by multiple readers within a company – did I mention it is now free? No passwords, no sign up, no charge. The magazine is fully funded by advertising, and we have recognised their contribution by reducing our rates, even while increasing page size – and providing live links to their emails and websites.

The NATIONAL is commonly regarded throughout the industry as ‘the bible’ and in the old days before Google was even referred to as an industry telephone book! If a launderer or drycleaner is looking for a supplier, be it for machinery, linen, consumables, insurance, training or service, the first place they look is in the ‘Advertisers Index’. With the relaunching of our brand new website, we are proud to offer the A-Z COMPANY DIRECTORY as a Free Service to our industry – almost 100 companies already listed free of charge. Please note we include the Australian or New Zealand company details, not the multiple brands they may represent.

Can’t think of the name of the company you are after? Coming soon we will upload a CATEGORY listing. With this you can just look for the heading, say “Training”, or “Mats” or “Boilers”, and you will find within that heading all of the companies who have registered with us. Not registered? Send an email to shirley@nationaldrycleaners.com.au and we will be happy to include you on the next update.

We are proud to be supportive of our Advertisers. We recognise that in the changing technological environment of both the drycleaning and laundry industry, their input as to what is happening with innovations and new product lines, and how these are already working in some companies within Australia and overseas, is of great interest to our readers. We welcome opportunities to feature news items and papers which are educational to our readers.

And, because we all need to put something back, like many businesses in our industry we select a charity or organisation to support. In 2015 we have made donations to Kids Helpline, Swags For Shelter, Orange Laundry, The Smith Family, and LifeSavers.

Prior to buying the NATIONAL I had been an avid reader of the magazine for theprevious 11 years. Commencing work as a stenographer for the laundry association in 1977, from 1983 I was employed as Executive Director of the “Textile Rental and Laundry Association (NSW)” and the “Drycleaning Institute of Australia (NSW)”, and from 1985 also as National Executive Director

of both ‘Textile Rental and Laundry Association (Australia) Ltd.” and the “Drycleaning Institute of Australia Ltd.” In May 1988 I resigned from those positions and commenced as Editor of the NATIONAL magazine on 1st July, 1988. In 38 years I can honestly say I have lost none of my enthusiasm and respect for our “twin industries” and the vital role launderers and drycleaners play in Australian society.